This bill amends Maine's campaign finance laws to strengthen disclosure requirements. It prohibits using contributor information from campaign finance reports for commercial purposes like sales, marketing, or unrelated solicitations, and bans publicly sharing contributor mailing addresses. Violators face fines up to $5,000 or a Class E crime charge. The law directly affects candidates, political action committees, party committees, and any organization handling campaign finance data. Key provisions clarify definitions of "public communication" and increase penalties for misrepresenting contributions.
This bill exempts qualifying Maine organizations - such as agricultural societies, nonprofits, volunteer fire departments, and their auxiliaries - from requiring registration or licensing with the Gambling Control Unit when conducting internet raffles with total prize values of $2,500 or less. It applies specifically to raffles where the combined value of all prizes (including multiple winning chances) does not exceed $2,500. The exemption does not apply to raffles targeting minors, and organizations must still comply with restrictions like prohibiting sales to under-18s and limiting simultaneous raffles to one. This change simplifies administrative requirements for small-scale fundraising by eligible groups.
LD 1074 removes the maximum probation period for individuals convicted of aggravated attempted murder in Maine. Currently, probation for such crimes is capped at 4 years (the same limit as for other Class A offenses), but this bill eliminates that cap. The law now specifies that probation for aggravated attempted murder can be set for any term of years, meaning there is no maximum length. This directly affects sentencing for this specific offense, granting judges discretion to impose probation without time restrictions.
This bill, LD 1234, requires all Maine public schools to adopt policies banning students from having cell phones in classrooms. Schools must include exceptions for emergencies, such as contacting parents or emergency services. The ban applies only to classrooms, not other school areas like hallways or cafeterias, so students may still use phones on school grounds outside of class. The policy change directly affects students and school administrators in Maine's public school system.
LD 1159 requires Maine businesses selling goods or services in person to accept cash for transactions under $2,000. It prohibits businesses from refusing cash payments, posting "cash not accepted" signs, requiring only electronic payments, or charging higher prices for cash payments. The law applies only to in-person retail sales, excluding transactions made by phone, mail, or online. Businesses must accept cash as a valid payment method for qualifying in-person purchases without penalty or extra cost.
LD 88 increases administrative penalties for violating Maine's agriculture, animal welfare, and weights and measures laws, allowing the Department of Agriculture to impose fines up to $5,000 per violation with a total cap of $50,000 per person. It requires the department to provide violators a 15-day window to request a hearing before penalties are finalized, and mandates consideration of factors like public health impact and prior violations when setting fines. The bill also permits the department to recover investigation costs and pursue unpaid penalties through court action, with interest accruing on overdue amounts.
LD 186 clarifies that Maine's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) can implement time-of-use pricing for standard-offer electricity service, which means electricity rates would vary based on when customers use power (e.g., lower rates overnight, higher rates during peak hours). This directly affects residential and small commercial electricity customers in Maine who receive standard-offer service. The bill amends state law to explicitly include time-of-use pricing as an option under the PUC's authority to incorporate cost-effective demand response and energy efficiency into standard-offer service. It does not create new pricing but clarifies existing regulatory authority for the PUC to use this mechanism.
LD 66 amends Maine's Wage Assurance Fund law to increase the maximum payment period for unpaid wages from 2 to 4 weeks and adds liquidated damages equal to the unpaid wages. This directly affects workers who lost wages when their employer closed or filed for bankruptcy, with no assets available to pay them. The fund, capped at $200,000, will now cover more weeks of earned wages plus additional damages. Employers must reimburse the fund when wages are recovered, and unused funds earn interest for the fund. The change aims to provide greater financial protection for affected workers.
LD 1757 updates Maine's licensing requirements for osteopathic physicians. It increases the required postgraduate training from 12 to 36 months for those graduating from accredited osteopathic medical schools on or after January 1, 2026. The bill explicitly prohibits the licensing board from requiring specialty board certification or "maintenance of certification" as a condition for initial licensure or renewal. This directly affects osteopathic physicians seeking to practice in Maine, particularly those graduating after 2025.
LD 301 (An Act To Allow The Public Utilities Commission To Establish Performance-Based Metrics And Rate-Adjustment Mechanisms For A Public Utility In Any Proceeding) gives Maine's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) the authority to set performance goals and adjust utility rates based on those goals during any existing regulatory case. It directly affects utility companies providing electricity, gas, or water services by linking their rates to measurable outcomes like service quality or infrastructure improvements. The bill allows the PUC to use these tools in any current proceeding under state utility law, without requiring new legislation for each case. This change does not create new requirements but provides a mechanism for the PUC to incentivize better utility performance through rate adjustments. The bill is procedural and focuses on administrative flexibility for the Commission.
LD 312 repeals a requirement that school buses travel at 45 miles per hour when transporting students, allowing them to follow posted speed limits on roads where the limit exceeds 45 mph. The bill amends Maine’s vehicle code (29-A MRSA §2074) to remove this specific restriction, meaning school buses will now operate under the same speed limits as other vehicles on public roads. This change affects all school bus drivers and transportation operations across Maine, aligning school bus speeds with general traffic rules rather than a fixed cap. The existing 25 mph limit in business or residential districts remains unchanged.
LD 867 defines "pre-need funeral insurance" as life insurance assigned to cover a prearranged funeral plan. It requires that only licensed funeral directors may sell such insurance and mandates detailed disclosures to consumers about plan costs, guarantees, relationships between sellers and funeral providers, and sales commissions. The bill also requires that funds paid for prearranged funeral plans be deposited into a separate account within 10 days. These changes aim to increase transparency and protect consumers purchasing pre-need funeral insurance.
